Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpharetta, GA and Tampa, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Alpharetta, GA and Tampa, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,041 in Alpharetta, GA versus $3,109 in Tampa, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,463 in Alpharetta, GA versus $4,547 in Tampa, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,885 in Alpharetta, GA versus $5,985 in Tampa, FL.

Living in Alpharetta, GA costs roughly 2% less than in Tampa, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alpharetta, GA 121% above, Tampa, FL 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.84 $21.84

$20.08 $20.08

8.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$76.1 $76.1

5.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 $9.83

$11.91 $11.91

-17.46%

Cappuccino

$4.70 $4.70

$5.98 $5.98

-21.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.35 $3.35

-23.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.54 $2.54

-20.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.66 $5.66

$6.98 $6.98

-18.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.57 $7.57

$9.11 $9.11

-16.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.21 $1.21

-29.75%

White Bread (500g)

$4.18 $4.18

$3.75 $3.75

11.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$4.89 $4.89

11.86%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$3.55 $3.55

25.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.79 $11.79

$13.91 $13.91

-15.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.97 $8.97

$10.96 $10.96

-18.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.84 $19.84

$20.67 $20.67

-4.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$5.51 $5.51

-16.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.84 $1.84

16.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.00 $4.00

$3.39 $3.39

17.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.87 $3.87

2.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.56 $2.56

48.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.99 $2.99

25.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.36 $2.36

-2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.41 $2.41

8.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.88 $8.88

$8.89 $8.89

-0.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.77 $14.77

$15.19 $15.19

-2.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 $1.74

$2.64 $2.64

-34.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 $4.05

$5.49 $5.49

-26.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.95 $1.95

49.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.6 $94.6

$65.3 $65.3

44.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.52 $2.52

15.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.54 $1.54

51.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.87 $39.87

$19.89 $19.89

100.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.02 $1.02

-13.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.0K $32.0K

$37.9K $37.9K

-15.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K $26.9K

$27.5K $27.5K

-2.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$261 $261

$207 $207

26.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$55.2 $55.2

$70.5 $70.5

-21.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$89.4 $89.4

$75.1 $75.1

18.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.31 $35.31

$48.45 $48.45

-27.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.37 $22.37

$20.97 $20.97

6.68%

Cinema Ticket

$16.82 $16.82

$16.56 $16.56

1.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,262 $1,262

$1,426 $1,426

-11.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K $15.9K

$22.3K $22.3K

-28.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 $78.7

$55.7 $55.7

41.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.37 $45.37

$44.47 $44.47

2.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 $130

$89.7 $89.7

45.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$124 $124

10.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,045 $2,045

$2,329 $2,329

-12.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,503 $1,503

$1,668 $1,668

-9.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,922 $2,922

$3,863 $3,863

-24.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,513 $2,513

$2,939 $2,939

-14.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,509 $7,509

$5,460 $5,460

37.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,365 $5,365

$2,192 $2,192

144.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,193 $6,193

$5,105 $5,105

21.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.06

6.11%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alpharetta, GA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Tampa, FL: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,045 in Alpharetta, GA and $2,329 in Tampa, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alpharetta, GA pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $80.0 in Alpharetta, GA vs $76.0 in Tampa, FL. Groceries flip the comparison at $407 vs $420, with Alpharetta, GA cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alpharetta, GA vs Tampa, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alpharetta, GA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 21% higher in Alpharetta, GA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,045 in Alpharetta, GA versus $2,329 in Tampa, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Alpharetta, GA runs roughly 45% less than in Tampa, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,262 in Alpharetta, GA versus $1,426 in Tampa, FL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Alpharetta, GA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Alpharetta, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Tampa, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.